Saturday, January 28, 2012

Naked in Death (In Death #1) by JD Robb

In hardcover for the first time, here is the novel that started it all-the first book in J. D. Robb's number-one New York Times-bestselling In Death series, featuring New York City homicide detective Lieutenant Eve Dallas and Roarke. 

It is the year 2058, and technology now completely rules the world. But New York City Detective Eve Dallas knows that the irresistible impulses of the human heart are still ruled by just one thing-passion. 
When a senator's daughter is killed, the secret life of prostitution she'd been leading is revealed. The high-profile case takes Lieutenant Eve Dallas into the rarefied circles of Washing-ton politics and society. Further complicating matters is Eve's growing attraction to Roarke, who is one of the wealthiest and most influential men on the planet, devilishly handsome... and the leading suspect in the investigation.
Type: Romantic Suspense, Futuristic
Heat: 3 out of 5
Rating: 4 out of 5


Eve Dallas is a New York police lieutenant investigating a killer targeting licensed companions in the city. The murders are brutal  and the method something rarely seen in the year 2058. It's a first for Eve. Just like, Roarke, the man she comes up against during her investigation. Not only is he a suspect in the murders but he tempts her in ways she never expected and threatens everything she's become. I'm rereading JD Robb's In Death series for a group challenge and gotta say I'm loving it the second time around just as much as the first. The world and life in 2058 is....different. Real meat, coffee, sugar are luxuries and hard to find. Soy and veggies abound! I'm a vegetarian so this so works for me. Real books have been replaced by holograms. Gack! Cars can fly and navigate themselves. Guns and smoking have been banned, sex for sale legalized. Autochefs deliver meals in seconds and droids are used for many mundane tasks. People vacation in space and computer activity monitored by the government. Genetic screening is used to weed out dangerous traits. And yet murder still happens. Robb makes you feel the grit and chaos of the city and appreciate the quiet, serenity and luxury of living away from the masses on a substantial property in the country. 

The mystery is well done. Fast paced, frustrating, heartbreakingly sad and manages a surprise or two along the way. The last few chapters kept me on the edge of my seat and my heart pumping. Robb does a fantastic job of showing how twisted and hypocritical some people can become. The bad guy is just a real piece of work. I liked how she blurred the line with Roarke and Eve and showed how messy things can be when work and play crash into each other and life gets in the way despite our best efforts. I enjoyed the sparks and tension created between Eve and Roarke and the romance that was thrown in and went against Eve's better judgement. How their relationship developed and was impacted by Eve's determination to stick to procedure  even while breaking just that by being with Roarke. 

Now I'm gonna gush a bit because Roarke and Eve have become two of my favorite characters. I've fallen completely in love with the two of them over the series and it was fun to jump back to the beginning and meet them again. The two are such an unlikely pair. Eve always follows the rules and keeps her life simple. Her job isn't what she does it's who she is. There are no frills in her life and she doesn't waste time buttering people up or mincing her words. She doesn't waste time on her clothes or appearance, is abrupt, prickly and really just a hardass. And I love her because of it. She is one tough chick and I so wouldn't want to go toe to toe with her. Roarke is in so many ways the exact opposite of Eve and is a self indulgent yet charming Irish billionaire who is all about the frills of life. He's aloof, confident and has no qualms skirting the law. This could so easily make him seem like an ass but under it he's got such a soft side and good heart.  He likes the finer things in life and pleasure of all kinds. Good food, real books, elegant surroundings, beautiful clothing. He and sin are well acquainted and lifelong friends. He doesn't like cops. She doesn't like people who play fast and loose with the law. Quite the pair, right? You wouldn't think on first glance the two would work well together but really they are so much alike and well suited for one another. Overcoming terrible and traumatic childhoods that would cripple most people they're both determined, reliable and honorable people even if they go about things differently. I love that they challenge and fluster each other. Neither looking for a relationship and finding something they didn't know they needed or wanted. I'll admit I fall a little harder for Roarke each time they're together and he does simple things like touching her cheek or feeding her. He seriously reminds me of a mother hen with all of his worrying over Eve and if she's eaten or slept enough, etc. I love that he won't let her run away from emotions that scare or confuse her and melted just a bit with the secret memento of Eve's he carries around. Yeah, so maybe I'm just totally smitten with Roarke and everything he does. I'm completely okay with that. 


2 comments:

  1. I love listening to this series on audiobook. Roarke sounds so sexy :D

    ~Krista
    theangrypollo{ AT }yahoo{DOT }com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hmmm. Might have to check out one of the audiobooks. Would LOVE to hear Roarke!

      Delete

I always enjoy hearing what YOU think so come on and leave a comment. Everyone's welcome :) And feel free to leave comments on old posts. I'll check in on you there too :)

Bloggers don't forget to leave your links!
~Anna

The Herd Archives