Purity in Death
by J.D. Robb
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Book Reviews of Purity in Death
Book Review: A good read, though not the best in the series
Summary: 4 Stars
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!
Book Review: This series is still rocking along quite well, thank you.
Summary: 4 Stars
A mild mannered low-level drug dealer goes berserk and kills his neighbor. Everyone who knew him thought of him as a quiet man who, although he peddled drugs to kids, wasn't the type to harm anyone. A member of a wealthy and powerful family slits his own throat. He had everything to live for: he was handsome, rich and a pedophile that routinely got away with his crimes because the system couldn't touch him. A porn king goes on a rampage and butchers his live in Lolita and then himself. His last entries in his diary show a man well satisfied with his life. The only thing Eve Dallas finds that these men have in common in a cryptic message on their computer screens. With the help of her friends and colleagues in the NYPSD Eve Dallas must hunt down a killer that uses a computer virus that infects the users, not just the computer.This is the fourteenth installment of Nora Roberts' "....In Death " series and it is still entertaining, if for no other reason to catch up on the characters to see where they've progressed from since the lat book. I liked this book particularly because it seems to be more purely police procedural. There are still the futuristic elements and the romance elements that are a mainstay of all the books, but this one somehow seems to be a little less formulaic than the others.
For one, we don't ever get an idea who might the murderer(s) be until well into the second half of the book. Where many of the previous books, especially the last two, seemed to be as much about the personality of the criminals perpetrating the crime as they are about Eve, this one seems more about the crime itself and the police work involved.
Also, Roberts added a nice little layer about the gray areas of police work. Previously, Eve's victims had all been pretty much blameless, if not spotless people. In this book the victims, by and large, are people who prey on young kids. Who cares if these people get offed? Society would be so much better without them. But those of us who know Eve know that she simply doesn't think that way. She stands for the dead, regardless of who they were. For those of us who are "Homicide: Life on the Street" fans, the discussions about this very subject bring back fond memories of Frank and Tim's discussions of this very subject. And the character of Eve Dallas is very close in ideal to the character of Frank Pembleton.
And finally, I think I love the idea of Eve's team working from Eve's palatial home as much as they do. Circumstances force them to work on this latest crime around the clock at her house and we see our favorite regulars, Peabody, McNabb and Feeney as well as some other familiar faces, consuming her great food and using Roarke's state of the art computer facilities.
Once again, Nora Roberts scores. This is a welcome installment in a series that should be getting tired but just seems to be getting better.
Book Review: Gripping! Another Winner for Robb!
Summary: 5 Stars
"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!
Book Review: "Absolute purity achieved"
Summary: 4 Stars
It is the summer of the year 2059 in New York and people are antsy due to the extreme heat, but for Louis K. Cogburn things get a little out of control when he uses a baseball bat to kill a neighbor and beat the girlfriend of the deceased. The life of the girl is saved only because a police officer was nearby and intervened, killing the aggressor. The officer is none other than Eve Dallas' protégé Trueheart, who instead of calling dispatch after the fact, calls the Lieutenant while he is still confused by the events. Now things get tricky, and Dallas has to step lightly to make sure that it does not look like cover up and that the termination is determined to be justifiable.
Louie was a small-timer who sold illegals to kids in order to start them in the vice, but he had no history of prior violent acts. Also, there is a strange message on the screen of Louie's computer: Absolute Purity Achieved. Things get complicated when Halloway, a detective working on EDD (Electronic Detectives Division) goes berserk while examining the computer found at the scene. In his rampage he stuns McNabb and takes Captain Feeney as a hostage. It is clear, that the computer has something in it that drives people crazy and then kills them, so Eve has to find the Purity Seekers, a group of terrorist that is using technology to kill scum.
J. D. Robb chooses a controversial issue for this novel, since the killers are going after people who deserve it; the innocents who have been harmed in the process are considered collateral damage by the group of avengers. The general public is quickly divided, and there are differences of opinion, even between spouses, in particular between Eve and her husband Roarke. As usual, the author creates a good balance between the topic at hand and the personal situations of the characters. In this case we find Peabody and McNabb having to deal with the aftermath of the injury he received, creating some highly emotional situations.
Those that have been following the series - and as I did in some of my other reviews I am going to recommend that you read it in order - will find a character from the past reintroduced here. Jamie is a kid that Eve met when she was going after a satanic sect. After the kid lost his grandfather and his sister both Roarke and Eve took the role of his protectors. He is extremely skilled in electronics, and comes as a great help in the current situation. Robb has a natural ability for reintroducing characters in this fashion and get the reader to establish a rapport with them. That is one of the many reasons why this series is still going strong.
Book Review: Fumbling futurism
Summary: 3 Stars
A young officer named Trueheart, on the NYPSD in 2059, calls his lieutenant, Eve Dallas, in shock. He has just killed a man in the line of duty, a man who was holed up in his apartment in front of his computer and suddenly went berserk, blood pouring from his body as he attacked his apartment building neighbors. On his computer screen is the single line: Absolute purity achieved. The case soon mushrooms when one of the NYPSD techs who studies the sick man's computer for clues goes berserk himself, with fatal consequences. Soon other cases are popping up, and in each instance the message left on their computer is the same. So are the victims' backgrounds. Pedophiles, drug dealers, everyone who has hurt the young and the helpless -- they are being targeted by a rebel group that's created a computer virus to infect humans. While the Purity Seekers are being hailed by the public as heros, behind the scenes Eve Dallas and her crew are working overtime to catch them and bring them to justice.PURITY IN DEATH, the 15th book in Nora Roberts' "In Death" series, initially proved a pleasant surprise. Having never enjoyed Roberts' romance fiction, I was prepared to be similarly unimpressed by her futuristic work, but found myself reading the first half of this book with great interest. The characters, if not believable, are at least fascinating, especially Eve Dallas and her hot and brainy husband, Roarke, and two other officers on the NYPSD, Peabody and McNab, whose romance is a welcome subplot. (My favorite character was actually Trueheart, and I was disappointed not to see more of him, although I guess he's featured in earlier installments.) The plot, if hackneyed and implausible and without technical backup, has some interesting aspects. But the ending.... Roberts lost me about halfway through this novel, when I started skimming with a partial idea of the outcome and little interest in confirming it. What started out a fast-paced if immature read unfortunately became bogged down in a political morass that was resolved without fulfilling any of the promise delivered by the early chapters.
Readers interested in realistic futuristic fiction with cutting edge technology and gripping plotlines should look elsewhere, but no doubt fans of this series, having the information from the previous books to sustain them, will find PURITY IN DEATH a decent, if not stunning, addition to their collection.